We are delighted to announce two new roles for former Luton Town players within our Academy, as Alex Lawless steps up to take charge of the Under-21s with Joe Deeney replacing him as U18s Lead Coach.
One of the heroes of the Town’s return to the EFL as Conference champions ten years ago, and scorer of the goal that knocked Wolves out of the FA Cup in 2013, Lawless returned to Kenilworth Road two years ago after his first coaching role with Leyton Orient’s youth team.
The 39-year-old former midfielder was initially assistant to Alan McCormack with the U18s before taking charge himself last summer when the Irishman moved up to the first team.
With Adrian Forbes departing to join newly-formed American club Texoma FC, Lawless has now stepped up to a new role as Senior Professional Development Coach and Loans Manager.
Academy Manager Paul Benson said: “Alex will be our U21 coach this season following Forbesy’s departure to Texas. Alex worked with the U18s last season and was really impressive. He’s getting better all the time with his coaching, he’s developing.
“Alex has a development mind-set for the players and he can also drive the high standards and behaviours that we like the boys to have.
“He knows what it takes to play for Luton Town and his knowledge and experience will be a good bridge between the players playing U18 football and the first team, so we’re delighted to have him leading our U21 group this year.”
Former central defender Deeney, who came through the youth ranks to make two senior appearances under Joe Kinnear in 2002/03, returns to Kenilworth Road as Under-18s Lead Coach.
Now 40, Joe spent 24 years in total as a Hatter, initially joining the club as a schoolboy before completing his apprenticeship and turning pro. He scored in one of his LDV Vans Trophy appearances, a thumping header in a 4-3 win over Stevenage, before leaving briefly to play Non-League for Enfield.
He made a swift return to the Club to cut his coaching teeth as youth development phase lead with the Under-15s and 16s, before leaving in December 2016 to become assistant manager at Oxford City and then taking the top jobs at Hemel Hempstead Town and Dunstable Town, where his three-year spell as manager came to an end in April.
His connections to the Hatters have remained throughout, however, with his role as coach in the Luton Town youth partnership at Cedars Upper School, where students train full-time and play in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League while taking their A level qualifications.
On Joe’s appointment, Benson added: “We are delighted to bring Joe back to the club in the capacity of the Under-18s coach.
“Joe has a long history with the club, having played and coached previously here, and again like Alex, I can trust Joe to deliver the right standards, values and behaviours to the group.
“His reputation as a developer of players is second to none and his influence on the group will be so valuable to have. The boys will take so much from Joe as a coach and a person, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to replace Alex in this role.”
Congratulations Alex and welcome home, Joe!